Dear readers,
Since I have started regularly sharing my etiquette teachings on social media, I’ve been periodically receiving questions (sometimes not the kind ones) about the relevance of etiquette in today’s era.
Many of you keep asking whether etiquette is not a thing of the past that has simply become obsolete.
I believe the exact opposite is true. But before sharing any evidence that would back up my statement, I think we need to decode why etiquette is so demonised nowadays.
It is a fact that back in the days, etiquette practices were used to divide the fortunate ones from the less fortunate ones. One could tell the social status of a person by how refined their manners were, which inevitably led to classism.
Nowadays, the world has thankfully become more globalised and open-minded which naturally resulted in an update of what etiquette represents.
In today’s world, we might not anymore frown upon a woman (I hope!) who doesn’t wear a pair of stockings on a hot summer day, but we still research ways to approach a business client politely and respectfully.
Etiquette has gained a new shape and form that reflects the current era, but it did not diminish completely. Quite the opposite!
With the increasing globalisation, it is becoming more and more important to understand different cultures and treat them with the utmost respect in business or in private.
In today’s newsletter, I am sharing a specific experience that I witnessed not so long ago that underlines the importance of etiquette in today’s context:
Some time ago I visited a country on the Arabian Peninsula where I partook in a business meeting. One of the male participants, who was not a Muslim, sat down comfortably and crossed his legs keeping his ankle over the knee. Immediately after, one could spot the discomfort on the faces of the Muslim participants.
The same sitting position can be seen as elegant in one part of the world, whereas in others it can be a rude gesture.
Sitting cross-legged, especially with ankle over knee, is a highly disrespectful gesture in the Middle East as well as certain parts of Asia. One should never show the bottom of the sole to others as it is considered rude. I am sure the ‘culprit’ did not mean any harm. He just simply lacked the knowledge of local etiquette customs which negatively impacted the business meeting.
Up to this day, many people who don’t have roots or connections in the Arab world are not familiar with this cultural error.
So dear readers, we might have moved from old school etiquette norms that used to divide the society, but I strongly believe that in order to show respect to all cultures of the world, etiquette becomes that one thing we should never ignore.
Yours sincerely,
Katarina
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